North Atlantic Treaty OrganizationChairs: Alex Kalavanos and Olivia Tyka

Hi everyone! We are so glad that you have decided to join us at PrepMUNC XIII, and

are so excited that you are participating in the best committee, NATO!

Hello delegates! My name is Alex, and I am a junior. I have been a member of the

Model U.N. club since the beginning of last year, and it was the best decision I made in high

school. In school, I play bass in orchestra (the best instrument in my opinion.) In my free time, I

love listening to music (especially Pink Floyd). When I get older, I want to have an exciting

profession, like an FBI agent.

Hello everybody! My name is Olivia Tyka and I am a sophomore at Prep. This is my

second year in Model UN and my first time chairing. Outside of MUN, I am also a part of St

Francis Prep’s Eastern European Club. I’m so excited to meet all of you and see you soon!

Topic A: Chinese AggressionStatement of the Problem

There are many NATO member states that have concerns over China and its aggressive

actions, but there are still other states who say that this is merely an overblown issue. There is

not necessarily a military threat posed by China at the moment to many European countries, but

as time passes it may drastically shift to the point where it is too late to stop it. China has the

world’s second biggest military, behind the United States. It is also important to note that many

countries have trade relations with China, which could influence a country's decision on the

topic.

One area where China is being particularly aggressive is the South China Sea. Nearly

$3.4 trillion dollars with of trade passes through the South China Sea every year, so it is clearly a

spot that China would want full control over. China wants the islands in the South China Sea to

be as offensive as possible, so they have added things like airstrips and ports in places like the

Paracel and Spratly Islands. They are also literally making the islands bigger by pouring sand

onto reefs and large rock formations. These islands in the sea have easy access to fishing in the

region and natural oil deposits, so these areas are always hotly contested. Many countries would

agree that China is overstepping the boundaries of freedom of navigation.

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is another example of China being aggressive. This

project has its routes in the Silk Road, and the goal of it is to enhance infrastructure between East

Asia and Europe. This includes things like railroads and highways all along the continent. Along

with being very expensive, this will strengthen China’s economic power even more because

around sixty countries have expressed interest in this development.

History of the Problem

A brief history of NATO will give this topic a new perspective. NATO, or North

Atlantic Treaty Organization, was formed in the aftermath of World War II. The goal of NATO

was to prevent the Soviet Union from becoming too powerful, ensuring European countries do

not have another nationalist uprsing (like Nazi Germany), and ensuring European countries were

working in harmony. The United States wanted to help Europe, so with the introduction of the

Marshall Plan they gave aid to European countries to try to boost the economy. After some

deliberation, the countries decided that they needed to cooperate, and the North Atlantic Treaty

was signed on April 4, 1949.

Political stability in Europe increased slowly but surely. However, the Soviet Union and

other Eastern European states formed the Warsaw Pact and set up the Berlin Wall. This caused

NATO to have a treaty of massive retaliation, where any attack from the Soviet Union would be

met with nuclear force. NATO continued to grow with new members and branches, and

emphasized the flexibility between member states, a trait the Warsaw Pact did not have. Over

time, the Eastern Europe bloc would disintegrate, and with the fall of the Berlin Wall on

November 9, 1989, it was clear that NATO was successful.

While the fall of the Berlin Wall was a momentous occasion, it raised the question -

would NATO still be necessary? As it turned out, NATO was still useful, as the organization still

sought to hinder militarism and ease political tensions in the world that could arise in the future.

For example, after 9/11, many countries banded together to stop the threat of al-Qaeda in

Afghanistan. But there are constant threats to NATO member states around the world that need

to be addressed, including China and rising aggression.

Past Action and International Opinion

On NATO’s 70th anniversary, the 29 member states agreed that China is a rising

influence, and that the country should be monitored. They focused on China’s advancements in

military, trade, and technology specifically, which China is quickly becoming a leader in. But

while there are similarities between NATO’s relationship with the Soviet Union and China, it is

not a direct parallel. As previously stated, there is not yet a direct military threat, and many

countries in Europe and North America trade with China.

Topic Objective

In this topic, delegates should come to an agreement concerning what should be done to

address China and its past actions. The opinions of all delegations should be taken into account,

and compromise is key.

Questions to Consider

1. Does your country see China as a threat?

2. Is China being too aggressive?

3. What is your country’s trade relations with China?

Citations:

https://www.defensenews.com/smr/nato-2020-defined/2019/12/03/nato-struggles-with-its-china-

conundrum/

https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/declassified_139339.htm

https://www.cfr.org/interactive/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/territorial-disputes-south-china-

sea

https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/chinas-massive-belt-and-road-initiative

https://youtu.be/dodbqgKn8js

https://youtu.be/luTPMHC7zHY

Topic B: Arctic CircleHistory of the Problem

Throughout history, many different explorers have

attempted to find a passageway through the Arctic Circle for an

easier trade route from Europe to China. A Northern Passage was eventually found, but it was a

dangerous journey covered with ice for most of the year, and was not considered a viable option

for many years. However, as global warming slowly heats the planet, the question of which

countries should have influence in the Arctic circle is raised.

Statement of the Problem

To understand the role of NATO in the Arctic Circle in the past, present, and future, it is

first important to understand the Arctic itself. The Arctic Circle is the northernmost areas of

Earth’s rotational axis, and is the border of the countries of Russia, Canada, Greenland, Iceland,

Norway, the United States, Sweden, and Finland. As time has progressed, more and more

countries have been involved in the Arctic Circle for a multitude of reasons. One of the most

pressing reasons is the growing impact of climate change. As the climate heats up, more and

more of the Arctic Circle disappears, and this could open trade routes that were previously

inaccessible. The International Maritime Organization has implemented the Polar Code of 2017

to combat this, which regulated transit in the Arctic Circle. It is also estimated that the Arctic

houses a large amount of oil that has yet to have been obtained, which countries are sure to

compete for. According to a US Geological Survey, there could be as many as 160 billion barrels

of oil underneath the Arctic, which would make up 13% of the planet’s natural oil. The image

below, from the American Geosciences Institute, shows an approximation of where undiscovered

oil in the Arctic could be on the left, and undiscovered gas could be on the right.

Many countries are also increasing the amount of military surveillance in the Arctic.

Russia is being especially aggressive in this regard, which was highlighted in 2007 when a

Russian submarine planted a Russian flag in the Arctic waters. Even more Russian military

bases, closed since the Cold War, have also begun to reopen. Countries in NATO have different

advantages in the Arctic - for example, Russia has nearly 40 icebreaker ships (ships designed to

navigate icy water easily), while the United States has two aging icebreaker ships.

The question of which countries should belong in the Arctic, along with who the

Northwest Passage belongs to, are also frequently brought up. Canada claims they should own

the Northwest Passage, while the United States has claimed it is international waters. Speaking

about the Arctic as a whole, China may be looking to have a strong claim in the Arctic, as is

evidenced by the hinting of a nuclear powered icebreaker. Trying to decipher which countries

should be included in the discussion of the Arctic is a necessity.

Past Action and International Opinion

If it is not clear, the problem with the Arctic is not how NATO is involved with the

regulation of it. The problem is that NATO has no future plan, and the countries that surround

the Arctic Circle are at a disagreement as to what should be done. Canada, for example, wants to

have what they think if a fair share of the Arctic, but for the most part leave it multinational.

Norway believes it is constantly being threatened by Russia, and wants Russia to lessen their

militaristic involvement; they do, however, have the most active Arctic military of any nation so

they can protect their interests. Iceland sees the Arctic as an economic venture, as Reykjavik, the

capital, could be a popular stopping spot in the Arctic “highway.” Denmark (who is involved in

this discussion because of Greenland) looks to find more resources in the Arctic. Despite all

these differences in handling the Arctic Circle, cooperation is not impossible. The United States

Thule Airport Base has Americans, Greenlanders, Danes, and Canadians.

Topic Objectives

During this topic, delegates will debate what to do pertaining to how the Arctic Circle

should be divided. They should come to a consensus and pass a resolution that represents what

each country wants to do to handle this issue.

Questions to Consider

1. Is your country a border country to the Arctic Circle?

2. Does your country have economic interests in the Arctic?

3. Who should control the Northwest Passage, according to your country’s views?

4. What short-term measures does your country want to take in the Arctic? What

long-term measures?

Helpful Videos and Articles

https://www.americangeosciences.org/geoscience-currents/oil-and-gas-us-arctic.

https://www.nato.int/docu/review/articles/2019/06/28/the-changing-shape-of-arctic-security/

index.html

https://www.maritime-executive.com/editorials/the-nato-alliance-s-role-in-arctic-security

https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2019/09/its-time-nato-arctic/159887/?oref=d-topictop

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-14728856

http://www.imo.org/en/MediaCentre/HotTopics/polar/Pages/default.aspx

https://youtu.be/Wx_2SVm9Jgo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcXyydo14D4&list=LLGKf_pD-rRjAgCrQ-

gHtwVA&index=18